Filler for chemical heating pads



April 3v 1934- H. E. SIMMONS 1,953,513

FILLER FOR CHEMICAL HEATING PADS Filed Feb. 2, 1951 Patented Api. 3,1934 UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE Kendall Company, Boston, Mass.,

tion of Massachusetts Application February 2, 1931, Serial No. 512,903

' s claims. (c1. 15o- 1) This invention relates to an improved type ofcontainer or insert for use in a chemical heating pad.

In the use of chemical heating pads for therapeutic and like purposes,it is the usual practice to enclose the chemical heating mixture in aporous bag which is, in turn, enclosed in an outer envelope or casing,which is usually made of rubberized fabric or other waterproof material.The

lo heat is produced by introducing water into the mixture in the innerbag, the entire unit being used much as in the manner of use of theordinary hot water bottle or electric heating pad.

A filler bag suitable for use in a heating pad of this character mustpossess certain structural features which are essential to thesuccessful generation of heat. It must be porous, so as to allow forfree access of air to the chemical mixture, the generation of heatdepending upon the oxygen in the air. While it must be sufficientlyporous to allow for the free admission of air, it must be so constructedas to prevent passage of the heating mixture which ordinarily is in nelydivided condition. The body of the bag must also have suiiicientstrength to withstand the weight of the materials which it contains, andalso must not be injuriously affected by heat and any gases which may beevolved during the course of the reaction. A further requirement, not tobe overlooked, is the cost ofthe materials used in the making of thebag, this being important, inasmuch as the bags have to be replaced bynew units as soon as the heat generating capacity of the mixture hasbecome exhausted.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a container or fillerbag which will satisfactorily meet the aforementioned requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a bag ofthe characterreferred to a sealing device which may be folded in such a way as tofirst permit introduction of the heating mixture and afterwards theintroduction of water without allowing opportunity for escape of thecontents of the bag.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filler bag constructed according tothe invention, a portion of the bag being broken away to show theinternal structure;

Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the sealing apbeing shown in position to permit introduction of the heating mixture;and

Fig. 3 is a detail section corresponding to Fig. 2,l

`stitching 10.

The paper employed for the inner bag must be sufficiently porous toallow for the free passage of air to the reaction mixture. Kraft paperof high porosity has been found suitable for this purpose, the paperbeing preferably crimped, as shown, to augment the effective surfaceexposed to the air. A paper of this nature will allow the free passageof air but will effectively prevent passage of dust or finely dividedportions of the heating mixture. The outer fabric covering is primarilyused to give strength to the bag, paper alone not being sufficientlystrong when moistened to withstand the weight of the materials in thebag. A 44-40 crinoline has been found suitable for use in making theouter fabric sections 7 and 8. Any inexpensive cloth may be used to formbinder 9.

To provide for introducing the chemicals into the bag, I provide at onecorner of the bag a filling opening 11 which is formed by leaving thecorner edges of sections 5 and 7 free to form flaps 12 and 13',respectively. Opening 11 is sealed by a flap 14 which consists of asquare piece of cloth having two of its edges held by stitching 10 inthe corner of the bag adjacent section 6. The piece forming ap 14 isfolded diagonally upon itself along line 15 to provide a triangularseetion 16 lying adjacent section 6, and a second triangular section 17lying adjacent section 5. Section 17 is creased so as to fold along line18, this also being the fold line for flaps 12 and 13.

The manner in which the sealing flap 14 is to be used will be understoodfrom Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2, the parts are positioned to permitintroduction of the heating mixture through opening 11, it being notedthat in this position flaps 12 and 13 are folded outwardly andtriangular section 17 of sealing flap 14 is not folded along line 18.The mixture may be poured into the bag between lining section 5 and theadjacent section 17 of flap 14. After the desired amount of the `mixture19 has been introduced through the opening 11, the bag is sealed byfolding iiaps 12 and 13 and an equivalent portion of section 17 inwardlyalong line 18. The in-turned portion of section 17, which correspondsapproximately in area to flaps 12 and 13, is covered by the latter toseal off opening 11.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that after flaps 12 and 13 and acorresponding portion of section 17 have been thus folded or tuckedinwardly, a pocket 21 is formed between fiap 13 and the adjacent portionof section 16. The fabric from which flap 14 is made is porous, so thatafter the filling opening has been sealed, water may be introducedthrough pocket 21 to start the generation of heat. If desired, sealingfiap 14 may be made of a non-porous piece having a slit along a portionof the diagonal fold line 15 to permit introduction of water throughpocket 21 when the corner of the bag is held open. 'Ihe slit formed inthe creased portion of flap 14 acts as a valve for allowing passage ofwater into the bag.

In practice the bag is made by first placing sections 5, 6, 7, and 8together. Sealing fiap 14, after being folded diagonally upon itself, isthen placed in the corner between the two center sheets 5 and 6, afterwhich the several parts are stitched together, as shown.

By building up the bag from a paper lining and a loosely woven fabriccovering, I am able to produce an inexpensive container which willprevent the passage of dust and finely divided materials through itssides and yet allow the free passage of air.- The design of the sealingmeans is particularly convenient, inasmuch as it allows the bag to befilled with the heating mixture and then sealed to allow for freehandling, without danger of less of the chemicals by leakage. No furthermanipulation of the sealing means is necessary when the bag is to beused, it being merely necessary to grasp the corner of the bag to spreadthe pocket 21, which then acts as a funnel for receiving the water.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flexible container for holding a finely divided chemical heatingmixture adapted to evolve heat when moistened in the presence of aircomprising an inner lining of porous paper, an outer covering ofreinforcing material secured along its edges to the edge portions of thelining, the adjoining edges of said paper lining and covering being openat one corner to provide an opening for admitting the heating mixture,and a sealing fiap secured on the inner face of one of said open cornersections, a portion of said fiap being foldable inwardly with the otheropen corner -section to form a seal for the filling opening.

2. A bag-like container for holding a finely divided chemical heatingmixture comprising opposed fiexible wall sections, the adjoining edgesof which are open at one corner to provide an opening for admitting theheating mixture, and a sealing fiap inserted between said wall sectionsand secured to the inner face of one of said open corner sections, saidfiap being folded upon itself, a portion of -said folded-over sectionbeing foldable inwardly with the other open corner section to form aseal for the filling opening.

3. A bag-like container for holding a finely divided chemical heatingmixture adapted to evolve heat when moistened in the presence of aircomprising opposed flexible wall sections, the adjoining edges of whichare open at one corner to provide an opening for admitting the heatingmixture, and a sealing fiap inserted between said wall sections andsecured to the inner face of one of said open corner sections, said apbeing folded upon itself, a portion of said folded-over section beingfoldable inwardly with the other open corner section to form a seal forthe filling opening, said fiap being formed of a porous material topermit introduction of water through the pocket formed thereby whenfolded to seal the lling opening.

4. A flexible container for holding a finely divided chemical heatingmixture adapted to evolve heat when moistened in the pressure of aircomprising an inner paper lining having sufficient porosity to allowfree passage of air to the interior of the container, an outer fabriccovering enclosing said paper lining, one corner of the container havingits adjoining edges free to provide an opening for admitting the heatingmixture, and a sealing flap secured to the inner face of one of saidopen corner sections, said flap being folded upon itself, the portion ofthe folded-over section of said flap lying adjacent the other opencorner section being folded inwardly with the latter to form a seal forthe filling opening.

5. A fiexible container for holding a finely divided chemical heatingmixture adapted to evolve heat when moistened in the present of aircomprising an inner paper lining having sufficient porosity to allowfree passage of air to the interior of the container, an outer fabriccovering enclosing said paper lining, one corner of the container havingits adjoining edges free to provide an opening for admitting the heatingmixture, and a sealing fiap secured to the inner face of one of saidopen corner sections, said flap being folded upon itself, the portion ofthe folded-over section of said flap lying adjacent the other opencorner section being folded inwardly with the latter to form a seal forthe lling opening, said fiap being formed of a porous material to permitintroduction of water through the pocket formed thereby when folded toseal the filling opening.

6. A bag having walls forming a closed receptacle except for a fillingopening, a portion of one of said walls adjacent said opening being freeand forming a flexible fiap, and a flexible closure member insertedbetween said wall sections and secured to a wall of the bag and adaptedto extend across the filling opening and to interfold with said flap toclose the bag, said member being separable from said flap when notinterfeided therewith to provide a. passage through which solid contentsmay be inserted into or removed from the bag.

7. A bag having walls forming a closed receptacle except for a fillingopening, a portion of one of said walls adjacent said opening being freeand forming a flexible fiap, and a flexible closure member insertedbetween said wall sections and secured to a wall of the bag and adaptedto extend across the filling opening and to interfold with said flap toclose the bag, said member being separable from said flap when notinterfolded therewith to provide a passage through which solid contentsmay be inserted into or removed from the bag, said closure member beingporous to permit the passage of liquid therethrough site wall of thecontainer to close said opening, in which position said member forms adistributing chamber through which water may be introduced into themixture to set up a heat reaction when desired, the free end of saidmember when separated from said container wall leaving a passagewaythrough said opening for insertion or removal of the contents of thecontainer.

HARRY E. SIMMONS.

